And a plague had broken out among the people, with a death toll of 24,000. Was Pinchas’ action correct? Will the plague continue? Stay tuned. In the beginning of this week’s sedra (the sedra’s being named Pinchas should answer one of the questions), G-d clearly answers both questions. Pinchas acted in jealous defense of My honor, and for this I give him the eternal covenant of peace, the Kehuna. It was his action that staid My hand from wiping out the people (as a result of the Baal Pe’or disaster). Pinchas’ action was so borderline, that G-d had to be the One to settle matters in the pandemonium that broke as a result of the killing of Zimri and Kosbi. Halachically, we can look at this as an act that is in a very, very narrow overlap of two areas of jurisdiction - namely, the area of judgment that G-d gave over to human beings and that area which He reserves for Himself. This is the way that Rambam puts it. In a situation where a Jew is engaged in sexual relations with a non-Jew IN PUBLIC (defined as in the presence of 10 or more Jews), then if a KANA’I (a Jew whose act is motivated by a deep passion to protect G-d’s honor) kills the man, then he is praiseworthy and zealous. Now the tricky details. [1] The KANA’I is deemed justified after the fact, only if the man and woman were currently engaged in the act. If he kills the man after he finishes, then that is an act of murder for which the KANA’I must stand trial. [2] If the KANA’I were to ask a halachic question, he would not be told that he may kill the man, even though we consider KANA’IM POGIM BO as Halacha from Moshe from Sinai. [3] If the man were to see the KANA’I coming to kill him and kill him first, that would be considered justified, as self-defense. These details seem to contradict the fact that we consider the killing not only justified but even praiseworthy, We might suggest that G-d will protect the one who acts to defend His honor, if his act is pure, if his motivation is pure, and if indeed all aspects of the situation warrant such drastic action. It is so easy to misuse this very delicate concept, and we must view Pinchas’ action as the exception, rather than the rule. [The
Pinchas Homepage]
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